Cushioning device



Nov. l, 1949 A. F. ocoNNoR CUSHIONING DEVICE Filed Sept. 13, 1945 fg/ ZPatented Nov. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CUSHIONING DEVICEApplication September 13, 1945, Serial No. 616,129

4 Claims.

The invention relates to cushioning or shockabsor-bing devices and isparticularly adapted for use as a draft gear for railway cars and as asnubber for use with the conventional truck springs of railway cars andlike vehicles.

The invention is an improvement of my United States Letters Patent No.2,239,113 of April 22, 1941.

An object is to provide a cushioning device having friction elementsproviding a large total friction or wearing area, as against the priorart devices of the kind which have a relatively small total wearingarea, resulting in necessity for frequent renewal ofthe worn parts andfrequent renewal of the entire devices.

A further object is to provide an improved cushioning device capable ofmany variations in capacity and resistance to compression, with slightmodifications in the parts.

Another ,object is the provision of a new and novel device of its kindwhich may be inexpensively manufactured of readily available materials.

A further object is to provide new and novel means for securing thedevice in assembled position.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the .invention willIbecome apparent from the following description, which, with theaccompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational View of the device, in normal uncompressedposition.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the device, in compressed position; onehalf of the view being shown in section along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken along line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

.Figures 5 and 6 show alternate types of housings which may be used withthe device, in place of the housing shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive.

In the drawings, the reference numeral I0 indicates an expandabletubular housing for substantially enclosing the parts y,of the deviceand maintaining them in assembled relation. A follower |2 is shownadjacent each end of the housing I0. Substantially midway between theopposed followers I2 is shown a pair of Wedge members It, inback-to-back relation and, intermediate each follower l2 and theadjacent wedge mem-ber I d, is shown two layers of segmental frictionplates i6 separated by a disc I8. The housing it may be provided withany suitable number of dowels 20 projecting inwardly from the housingwall adapted for interlocking relation with the inner parts of thedevice, for the purpose of maintaining the housing Il)l and said linnerAparts in predetermined relationship. After the component parts havebeen assembled a bolt' 22, with suitable nut, may be used as shown tounify the assembly.

The housing I0 may comprise a resilient metallic tubular member,preferably made of spring steel, with a slit or opening 24 traversingone of the longitudinal walls of the housing. The opening 2l! may extendperpendicular to the planes of the opposed ends iof the housing or mayextend diagonally thereto. While I have shown the dowels 2U ascomprising round pins, I contemplate the use of any suitable shapeswhich may serve the purpose. The dowels 2l] may comprise pins screwedinto suitable holes in the housing wall, pins drive-fitted into suitableholes in the housing wall or pins extending thru suitable holes andpeened over or welded to the outer surface of the housing walls. Icontemplate the use of the alternate design of housing shown in Fig. 5,as a means of increasing the capacity of the device shown in Figs. l to4, inclusive. The housing 25 of Fig. 5 may comprise a split tubularmember similar to housing lil and may 'be embraced by a closely fittingouter split tubular member 2S; the split sides of the members 25 and 26being preferably opposite each other. I also contemplate the use ofalternate housing 28 comprising an expandable tubular member having across-sectional configuration substantially approximating a spirallywound member having double walls throughout a portion thereof. Where thehousings of Figs. 5 and 6 are used, I contemplate utilizing thefrictional advantages of the double walls of the housings duringoompression and release of the cushioning device, as well as theadditional resistance to compression,

as in the case where a device of high load capacity is required. Thehousings of Figs. 5 and 6 may lbe providedwith dowels or similar detentmembers as may be used with housing II).

The follower I2 may comprise a cupped member provided with asubstantially at base portion on one side provided with a laterallydisposed annular iiange adapted to abut the adjacent end portion of thehousing Ill when the device is fully compressed. The base portion may beprovided with an inwardly extending central cavity 32 adapted toaccommodate and receive the centering boss on the conventional springplate, when the device is used as a snubber on a railwa3T car truck. Aflat annular portion 34 may be provided in parallel, spaced relationwith the base flange 3G and a central outwardly extending taperedportion 35 terminating in a circular flat end portion 38. An aperture4i! may extend axially through the ilat end Iportion 33 providingcommunication with the cavity 32.

The wedge member I4 may comprise a circular disc-like portion 42provided on one side with a centrally and outwardly disposed taperedportion 44 terminating in a -circular at end portion 46, vand may beprovided on the other side with an integral disc-like portion 48, ofsmaller' diameter than the disc-like portion 42. A central aperture mayextend through the wedge member I4.

The disc I8 may comprise a flat circular plate having a central aperturetherethrough.

The friction plates I6 may best be described by stating that one layerthereof may be made by providing a central tapered hole through acircular fiat plate and then cutting said plate into four or moresegments; each of the resulting segments forming a friction plate Iii.As best shown in Fig. 2, I have shown the outer arcuate edges ci thefriction plates IE5 as coinciding with the inner surface of theunexpanded housing I0.

Inasmuch as the arcuate edge portions of the friction plates It (as bestshown in Fig. 2) coincide with the inner surface of the unexpandedhousing Il?, these edge portions will not register closely with theinner surface of the expanded housing Iii. I contemplate making the saidarcuate edge portions of any radii intermediate the radii of theexpanded and unexpanded housing. I also contemplate the use of anydesired number of friction plates I5 in each layer in excess of the foursegments per layer illustrated in the drawings.

The device is equally adaptable as a draft gear or as a snubber forrailway cars, the illustrated embodiment of the invention being asnubber. It is particularly pointed out that one of the importantobjects is the provision of a friction device having relatively largetotal friction area. It will be seen (as best shown in Fig. 3) that thefriction plates lf3 will be in frictional engagement with the housing IQduring compression and release of the device. The tapered surfaces ofthe friction plates It and the adjacent tapered portions of thefollowers l2 and wedge members I4 will be in frictional relation duringcompression and release of the device. 'Ihe surfaces of the frictionplates I6 which contact the discs I8 will be in frictional engagementtherewith during closing and opening of the device. Where the alternatehousings of Figs. 5 and 6 are used additional friction will occurbetween the inner and outer portions of these housings.

The load capacity of the invention may be greatly varied by theselective use lof the housings shown in the drawings and by modifyingthe degree of taper in the several parts.

The housings illustrated in the drawings serve the purpose of resistingcompression of the device, provide friction to absorb shock and work andalso act to return the integral device to a predetermined position uponrelease of compressive force.

An important object is to provide a new and novel friction cushioningdevice wherein the frictional wear on the several parts thereof iswidely distributed as against prior art devices wherein the friction and:frictional wear is concentrated at a few concentrated points, requiringfrequent renewal of the worn parts.

'It is to be understood that the invention is not limited .to theparticular shape or number of elements shown in the drawings. The numberof layers of friction plates I6 may be more or less than shown in thedrawings. While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of theinvention, the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changesand modifications which come within the scope of the appended claims.

While I have shown the housing I as being made of metal, I contemplatethe use of any hard material, such as ber board or plastics; in fact anyhard material having the required resiliency to permit the expansion ofthe housing and its unaided return to unexpanded positionl I claim:

1. A cushioning device comprising a tubular resilient body formed forresilient radial expansion, a conical wedge member mounted in the body,means in the body for limiting movement of said wedge member in onedirection, a complementary conical wedge member movable axially into thebody, a series of segments around each of the wedge members and engagingthe body and the wedge members respectively, and a disc lying betweenthe sets of `segments vand .engaging the adjacent faces thereof.

2. A cushioning device comprising a tubular resilient body formed forresilient radial expan- 3. A cushioning device comprising a tubularvresilient body formed for resilient radial expansion, a pair of conicalwedge members lying base to base centrally in the tube, a pair ofcomplementary conical wedge members movable axially into the ends of thebody, a series of segments around each of the wedge .members engagingthe body and the respective wedge members and movable axially andradially when the last named wedge members are moved, and discs betweenthe adjacent series of segments.

4. lA cushioning device comprising a tubular resilient body formed for`resilient radial expansion, a pair of conical wedge members lying baseto base centrally in the tube, a pair of complementary conical wedgemembers movable 'axially into the ends of the body, a series of segmentsaround each of the wedge members engaging the body and the respectivewedge members and movable axially and radially when the last namedwedgemernbers are moved, and a tension fastenling extending centrallythrough the wedge mem- 5 bers and engaging the complementary wedgeNumber members to limit axial separation thereof. 1,503,192 ARTHUR F.OCONNOR. 1,616,411 1,620,630 REFERENCES CITED 5 1,700,133 The followingreferences are of record in the 1:939'433 flle of this pal-tent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date 10 426,370 799,698Westinghouse Sept. 19, 1905 439,295 1,169,863 Peycke Feb. 1, 1916315,941 1,427,309 Mather Aug. 22, 1922 Name Date Langton July 29, 1924Caneld Feb. 1, 1927 Brenne Mar. 15, 1927 Kressig Jan. 29, 1929 SymingtonJan. 29, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Mar. 10, 1926 GermanyJan. 6, 1927 Great Britain July 25, 1929

